This looks just like the breakfast buffet I had in Japan recently, and there it is definitely NOT because the quality of other food available to travelers is low. So I don't think that's it. I'm gonna go with "that's just how it's done." Not everyone has the low expectations of food that we sadly seem to have in the US.
I agree the buffets in Chinese hotels are better, although I was usually so tired during those trips and barely felt like eating. Also, my experiences with hotel breakfast buffets in Eastern/central Europe were complementary and better than in Western Europe , especially at mid-priced hotels in Prague and Budapest.
I unfortunately don't have any insight into how the hotel industry makes these decisions, but I do think it is more or less a rule that the more upscale the hotel, the worse the service, in the sense that they charge for things that ought to be included. Any mid-range hotel chain will give you a breakfast and free internet. The expensive ones will charge you for these. Personally, I think it's ridiculous, and I never stay someplace that won't give me breakfast and internet unless someone else is paying for it. (Or if I'm looking at the opposite end of the scale, really seeking a budget place, in which case I'll sacrifice the breakfast. But even those places typically provide free internet.)
My wife and I traveled to China in 2017 to adopt our youngest, and those buffets were incredible. I personally loved the spread of fresh fruit they all had, and the chefs you mentioned who make things to order. These photos really make me miss China... we will definitely go back someday. Thanks for sharing!
This looks just like the breakfast buffet I had in Japan recently, and there it is definitely NOT because the quality of other food available to travelers is low. So I don't think that's it. I'm gonna go with "that's just how it's done." Not everyone has the low expectations of food that we sadly seem to have in the US.
Same (maybe better even) in Japan...
I agree the buffets in Chinese hotels are better, although I was usually so tired during those trips and barely felt like eating. Also, my experiences with hotel breakfast buffets in Eastern/central Europe were complementary and better than in Western Europe , especially at mid-priced hotels in Prague and Budapest.
I unfortunately don't have any insight into how the hotel industry makes these decisions, but I do think it is more or less a rule that the more upscale the hotel, the worse the service, in the sense that they charge for things that ought to be included. Any mid-range hotel chain will give you a breakfast and free internet. The expensive ones will charge you for these. Personally, I think it's ridiculous, and I never stay someplace that won't give me breakfast and internet unless someone else is paying for it. (Or if I'm looking at the opposite end of the scale, really seeking a budget place, in which case I'll sacrifice the breakfast. But even those places typically provide free internet.)
My wife and I traveled to China in 2017 to adopt our youngest, and those buffets were incredible. I personally loved the spread of fresh fruit they all had, and the chefs you mentioned who make things to order. These photos really make me miss China... we will definitely go back someday. Thanks for sharing!